Energy Use from Mining
CURRENT TOTAL
Live Counter Notable Facts
(Data shown in the table is for 2025. Counter shows current estimate)
Annual Energy Use
Per Second Rate
Share of Global
Understanding Energy Use from Mining
This counter tracks the enormous energy consumption of the global mining industry in real-time. Mining operations require massive amounts of energy for extraction, crushing, grinding, transportation, and processing of ores, making the sector one of the world's largest industrial energy consumers.
The total amount of energy used in the mining and minerals industry has been estimated to be 4–7% of the global energy output. With global energy consumption at approximately 580 million terajoules, mining consumes roughly 30 million terajoules annually.
Energy sources for mining typically include about one-third electricity, one-third diesel fuel, and one-third coal, natural gas and gasoline. The largest amounts of energy are used in rock breaking, crushing, grinding, loading, hauling, ventilation, and dewatering operations.
Mining Energy Consumption Overview
- Mining energy intensity is increasing as ore grades decline globally, requiring more rock to be processed for the same metal output. Copper ore grades have fallen from 2% to under 0.5% over the past century, multiplying energy requirements.
- Underground mining is particularly energy-intensive due to ventilation, hoisting, and pumping requirements. Deep mines can consume over 100 kWh per tonne of ore just for ventilation and cooling in hot climates.
- Comminution (crushing and grinding) accounts for 3-5% of global electricity consumption and up to 50% of a mine site's energy use. This makes it the largest single energy consumer in mining operations.
- The shift toward renewable energy in mining is accelerating, with companies like Fortescue planning to save 700 million liters of diesel and 15 million gigajoules of gas annually through decarbonization by 2030.
Mining Energy Terminology
- Comminution: Energy-intensive crushing and grinding of ore
- Specific Energy Consumption: Energy per tonne of ore processed
- Mine Ventilation Load: Energy required for underground air circulation
- Haulage Energy: Fuel consumed transporting ore and waste rock
Energy Use by Mining Activity
- Comminution (crushing/grinding): 40%
- Material transport: 20%
- Ventilation (underground): 15%
- Dewatering/pumping: 10%
- Processing/beneficiation: 10%
- Other operations: 5%
Energy Sources for Mining
- Electricity: 35% (grid and on-site generation)
- Diesel fuel: 33% (trucks, equipment)
- Coal: 15% (on-site power, heating)
- Natural gas: 12% (processing, power)
- Renewable energy: 5% (growing rapidly)
Energy Intensity by Commodity
- Gold: 130 GJ per kg (extremely high)
- Platinum: 165 GJ per kg
- Copper: 50 GJ per tonne
- Iron ore: 0.15 GJ per tonne
- Coal: 0.09 GJ per tonne
Data Sources and References
Methodology and Data Collection
Mining energy consumption is estimated at 5.2% of global energy use based on industry studies and energy statistics. This includes all energy forms consumed in extraction, processing, and transportation of mined materials.
The real-time counter applies a consumption rate of 951 terajoules per second based on annual mining energy use of approximately 30 million terajoules, reflecting continuous global mining operations across all commodities.